Need help identifying a P08.

G

Gunnut140

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I have a chance to buy a luger in 9mm for $800, but I'm having a hard time identifying markings on it. It has been reblued, and the grips are replacement. On the left side of the frame in front of the S/N there is a symbol similar to a starburst with the number 6 in it. Below the S/N on the high point "1917" is stamped. The toggle has been replaced, and is no help. It has an import stamp under the barrel. I know it sounds like a mess, but is it worth $800?
 
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I think the "Starburst" signifies an East German rebuild, but I am not a Luger expert, nor did I sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night. If it is a complete, functioning pistol, $800 is an acceptable price. Not a real "collectible", but an average price for a usable shooter.
 
On Gunbroker, Lugers start at 4 figures. Keeping in mind that the rebluing totally destroyed any collector value. That and Lugers are kind of daft things. They can sit in gun shops for eons with no interest from anybody. It seems like anybody who wants one already has one. Unless you live in an area that has a large population of German descent they're almost impossible to sell in a shop.
Anyway, there's a picture on this forum(post #6) showing the stamp is "the Volkspolizei sunburst".
https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?948362-East-German-lugers
 
Intact and functional, rebuild / reblue no collector value. $800 is well within the going rate for a shooter Luger.

Do not use +p ammo.
 
Thanks

Thank you all for your information, and guidance. I was on the fence leaning toward not buying it, but now I think I will
 
There are two plusses to actually owning and shooting a Luger, beyond having a piece of firearms history.

The first is you can personally find out if the legendary drawbacks/advantages that we've all read about are real or not.

Second, you get to find out if they apply to the gun in your hands.

Lugers are neat. I've had a couple. I even have a couple .22s. They aren't like any other handgun. Think of them like an antique motorcycle or a biplane (as they are from the same era).

Compared to more modern designs, the sights suck, the trigger pull is usually crap, though some are "fair" unless someone who knew what they were doing has worked on it. Mechanically they can be quite accurate, but shooting them well isn't easy.

But they have a feel unlike anything else. Experiencing that for your self is worth the ride. And, when you get tired of it, someone will buy it for what you paid, or more, nearly always.
 
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